Acting Legal Issues
Although one may not think of actors as especially litigious - indeed, many actors are afraid of rocking the boat - there are occasions when a little legal knowledge may go a long way to prevent a nasty court battle; or, on the contrary, galvanize you to take some action on your own behalf. Most of the time, however, legal know-how has more mundane uses - from what's involved in forming a not-for-profit tax-exempt organization (such as a theatre company) to knowing the difference between being an employee and an independent contractor. The distinction determines benefits, Social Security, and taxes. It's clearly useful for actors to know their rights and/or obligations with acting legal advice from an expert in the entertainment industry.
A more obvious need for lawyerly information arises when an actor feels shafted financially from a job or otherwise. Money that was promised is not forthcoming, an agreed-upon contract has not been lived up to; indeed, the whole subject of contracts often requires some legal background to ensure that a proposed agreement even makes any sense.
And then there are the more complicated - subtle legal issues that an actor may contend with in their entertainment industry acting jobs, such as discrimination or defamation. How does one define either term? And, equally relevant, how does one establish proof? Case in point: If a theatre rarely hires a woman director, is it therefore discrimination if a particular woman is not hired? Maybe the producers simply don't view her as talented. How does she prove otherwise? And then what should she do about it? Similarly, if one actor publicly berates another (as example), when is it defamation of character?
LINKS
Dealing with Defamation
Defamation is a legal claim for a false statement of fact about a person that is printed, broadcast, spoken, or otherwise communicated.
Fighting Discrimination
Discrimination means to be treated differently, and therefore people who are "discriminated against" under the law are treated in an inferior way to others in a "favored" group.
Getting (and Keeping) Important Records in Order
Do yourself and your organization a favor — get (and keep) your records in order.
Keeping Your Not-for-Profit Corporation Healthy
Have you given your not-for-profit corporation its annual checkup?
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